Carmel Highland Golf Resort & Spa: High above the highway in San Diego
SAN DIEGO -- Opened in 1966, Carmel Highland Golf Resort & Spa has long been a favorite among locals for its hills, fast and tricky greens, and several unusual holes.
Designed by William F. Bell of Torrey Pines fame, the course tumbles across hillsides just 15 minutes north of downtown San Diego, right off Interstate 15. In fact, the highway plays a key role in playing the course in that putts (and fairways, for that matter), tend to run toward the interstate.
With a hotel on property, guests can also stay and play at Carmel Highland Golf Resort & Spa, which is now operated by Troon Golf. At 6,428 yards long, the course plays to all levels, but it's not a pushover. The shorter holes, though tempting to go for it all, call for good course management.
Carmel Highland Golf Resort & Spa - No. 11
The 11th at Carmel Highland Golf Resort is short, but the course's short holes are anything but easy.
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Carmel Highlands Golf Resort & Spa - No. 1
The first hole at Carmel Highland Golf Resort is an uphill 340-yard par 4.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
Carmel Highland Golf Resort & Spa - No. 4
The 175-yard, par-3 fourth at Carmel Highland Golf Resort in San Diego.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
Carmel Highland Golf Resort & Spa - No. 5
The fifth hole is the first of back-to-back par 5s at Carmel Highland Golf Resort in San Diego.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
Carmel Highland Golf Resort & Spa - 8th
The eighth hole at Carmel Highland Golf Resort plays straight up a hill.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
Carmel Highland Golf Resort & Spa - No. 13
The 13th at San Diego's Carmel Highland Golf Resort is a 388-yard par 4.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
Carmel Highland Golf Resort & Spa - No. 15
The 15th is a reachable par 5 at Carmel Highland Golf Resort in San Diego.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
Carmel Highland Golf Resort & Spa - No. 17
The green for the short, downhill, par-4 17th at Carmel Highland Golf Resort is tucked away in a corner.
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Carmel Highland Golf Resort & Spa - practice
Although Carmel Highland Golf Resort doesn't have a full driving range, it does have an extensive short-game area that includes chipping, bunker and putting practice.
Mike Bailey/TravelGolf
